Coast Guard responding to downed aircraft near Albert Whitted Airport

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Coast Guard is monitoring for pollution following a report of a downed aircraft approximately 150 yards north of the runway at Albert Whitted Airport, in St. Petersburg, Monday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a report at approximately 11:30 a.m. that a single-engine aircraft with only the pilot, Nancy Schofield, onboard had crashed in the water north of the runway.

Crewmembers from the Dolphin Queen, a sight-seeing vessel homeported in St. Petersburg, rescued Schofield and took her to awaiting EMS.

The Federal Aviation Adminstration is investigating the cause of the incident.